How do I write a contest winning story that is only 5,000 words in length?

Lonnie, as short stories go, 5,000 is a pretty generous word count.

I suspect you need to be thinking of a smaller concept. One main character, one event to which s/he reacts, and what happens.

Recommended reading: A dozen or more short stories in whatever genre you most often write. Read for the pleasure, but also pay attention to how big an idea they use, how much description they incorporate, how tight they are with words, and all that sort of thing.

Just plan the events in your story very precisely. Write out what happens in the beginning, middle, and the end. Then try your best to stick to your plan. That way you can write according to the plan and make sure the story is an appropriate length. It's when you start to sway from the story and write random, unnecessary scenes that it begins to get too long!

Also, you can do what my English teacher does.

She will say that if the story is any more than two pages, she won't read past the end of the second page. So tell yourself that the story will NOT be any more than 5,000 words. When you get to the 5,000, you MUST stop writing. If you are aware of how much to write while you're writing, it will force you to try to wrap the story up within the limit.

good luck!

a million.) have been given old truck and quit smoking. 2.) Whalers are out; whales dive, singing. 3.) China won't be in a position to bear the environmentalists' dare. 4.) Wal-Mart; how do human beings locate exits? 5.) I wasn't smiling. not greater pictures. 6.) Sea Shepherd, 'bombs,' nets, equivalent 'terrorism'? 7.) in basic terms fins needed from sharks; gruesome. 8.) Affirmative action for Thomas, no others. 9.) Left cellular on mattress, searched eating place. 10.) Fortune cookie monster leaves fortunes everywhere! 11.) great view, great porch, i'm by.